The Irish standard., 1887-12-24
wistful look within. The cwner noted
the glance and beckoned to him.

WlSLIul look WltQln. 1Gte CWAeE UOl6u
the glance and beckoned to him.
Come" said he; '.I'll make a bar.
gain with you. Sweep out the floor
trim and clean. and you shall have a
glassful for your pay
This offer was accepted. and when
the man had completed his task the
saloohkeeper placed bottle of spirits
before him. The other filed the glass
to the very brim, drained it at gulp,
and passed out into the street.
Long and far he wandered through
the city that Christmas morning, vainly
begging for money and as vainly beg
ging for food. Charity seemed dead
cold as the bitter air. Despair seized
upon his heart Weak from hunger,
he could toll on no farther. He
reached a small suburban park, and
brushing the snow from the edge of a
rustic seat within, hecast himself upon
it, huddled his frenzing limbs together,
sank his head upon his bosom and sat
motionless. His thoughts went back
TO the past. He recalled the years,
when prosperity and happiness were
his, the merry Christmas days, the joy
1 GUS Christmas nights, before the demon
OF drink had clutched him in his fatal
grasp. He recalled the image OF the
sweet, patient wife, who had dropped
broken. hearted and died. He thought
Of the brave young boy whom his
drunken brutality had driven from his
side, and Of whom he had never heard
again. But, most of all, his memory
ciung to the image of his lovely child
his Mary-his idol-the pride OF his
heart, who had died untimely in his
arms. and whom he had laid away be-
| meath the grass in the cemetery of the
far Western city. And then it was
that shame and self respect had aband-
oned him forever. He recalled his in
firm struggles with the deadly vice that
assailed him; his dubious victories, his
shameful defeats. his slow but sure
descent to sordid penury, his final and
utter disgrace and ruin. And there he
sat on that Christmas morning, freez-
ing, starving, with the hand of death
heavy upon him-ss stranger in the great
city and alone amidst its multitudes,
with naugbt but the memory OF the
dead and gone to bear him company.
A light touch upon his arm! He
looked up, Great God! Had the years
flown back? Had the dead ariseni
Was all mis- misery but pliantasm--
all the wretched years but the hideous
/ illusions of dream? His Mary-his
darlingl did she not stand before him:
A beautiful child had advanced from
the side of a richly dressed lady and
neld out piece OF silver III her daintily.
gloyed fingers, with look half pityjng
Daif shrinking, as she met his eager
gaze. He stretched forth his hand to
take the money. 1t met her own, and
ii thrill shot through his frame. A
wild, passionate light burned in his
eyes His lips moved, but gave out no
sound. He moved, as il TO arise; but
the child, alarmed, recoi!ed from the
ragged outoast and hurried back to
the lady's side. Then they passed
ACROSS the park and were gone.
Almost unconscious of his action, the
man arose TO follow them. He would
look once more upon the lovely features
of the child-the living counterpart OF
the angel he had lost. His weakness,
his hunger were forgotten. AS he
moved away small, black object, half
buried in the snow. caught his eye. 1t
was portemonnaie, and itlay upon the
spot where the lady had stood. He
thrust it in his bosom and hurried On.
The lady and child were now in sight
before him, and he followed in their
path. At a little distance they passed
within gateway and disappeared from
his view, The gate was the entrance
to wide and spacious garden. in the
midst of which at some distance from
the roadway stood small buC hand
some cottage. A cluster Of tall ever
greens shaded the lower windows from
outer view.
Arrived hither, the man crossed the
enclosure and knocked at The area door
of the dwelling. A maidservaut,
flushed with the labor and heat Of the
kitchen. answered the summons.
ssWhat. another!'' she cried, testify
and with a frown. mo; there's nothing
for you to-day!''
Il ask for nothing" returned the
man. "Here, take this to YOUR mistress
the lady who has just passed in. and
ask if she has not dropped it in the
park below y
The woman stared at him in utter
surprise as he delivered to her the porte
monnaie be had found.
s,Wait here,' she said, and closed the
door in his face. Presen5ly she re-
turned.
''You were right" she spoke, in gen.
tie tones; and the lady sends you this
with her thanks" handing him bank
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